California State University faculty members reached a tentative contract agreement with the university system, ending their week-long strike for higher wages. The deal includes a 5% raise retroactive to last year and another 5% raise in July, as well as increased minimum wage for the lowest-paid faculty. The strike, involving nearly 30,000 workers, came after failed negotiations for a 12% pay raise. The agreement averts potential class cancellations and reflects a trend of labor activism in California and across the country.
A leaked internal memo from Amazon reveals the company's plans to expand its influence in Southern California, including efforts to improve its reputation through charity work and counter labor agitation. The memo outlines Amazon's strategy to court local politicians and community groups to advance its interests in a region where it faces opposition from environmental and labor activists and local moratoriums on warehouse development. The document also highlights the company's concerns about its reputation and challenges in Southern California, particularly regarding its impact on communities of color and poverty. Amazon aims to earn the trust of community groups and nonprofits to push back against state bills that threaten its interests and to showcase itself as a leader in sustainability. The memo also emphasizes the company's focus on generating positive media coverage through charitable campaigns and its intention to stop funding organizations that are antagonistic towards its interests.
Over 75,000 unionized employees of Kaiser Permanente, one of the largest not-for-profit health providers in the US, have gone on strike, making it the largest healthcare worker strike in US history. The striking workers, represented by a coalition of eight unions, are demanding improved staffing levels, higher pay, protections against outsourcing, and earlier notice for remote workers to return to in-person work. The strike comes amidst a wave of labor activism across various industries, with healthcare workers in particular advocating for safer and more secure work environments. The strike is temporary, but a longer and stronger strike may occur in November if a deal is not reached.
Laphonza Butler, president of Emily's List and former labor leader, has been appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom to fill the Senate seat of the late Senator Dianne Feinstein. Butler, a prominent figure in California politics, has never held elective office but has extensive experience in labor activism and political consulting. As the second Black woman to represent California in the Senate and the first openly LGBTQ+ senator from the state, Butler's appointment aligns with Newsom's promise to appoint a Black woman to fill any vacant Senate seat. She will serve until the 2024 election, where she may choose to run for the seat herself.
